Aspect Ratios
A quick reference to common width-to-height ratios used for displays, video, photography, cinema, ultrawide screens, and vertical content.
An aspect ratio describes the proportional relationship between width and height. A 16:9 image is 16 units wide for every 9 units high. The physical size and resolution can change while the aspect ratio stays the same.
Common Aspect Ratios
The same aspect ratio can appear at many different resolutions. The values below describe proportions rather than a fixed number of pixels.
| Ratio | Decimal | Example | Common Uses |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1:1 | 1.00:1 |
1080 × 1080
|
Square images, icons, social content |
| 5:4 | 1.25:1 |
1280 × 1024
|
Older computer monitors |
| 4:3 | 1.33:1 |
1024 × 768
|
Classic television, older monitors, tablets |
| 3:2 | 1.50:1 |
6000 × 4000
|
Photography and cameras |
| 16:10 | 1.60:1 |
1920 × 1200
|
Laptops and productivity displays |
| 16:9 | 1.78:1 |
1920 × 1080
|
TVs, monitors, video, gaming |
| 21:9 | ≈2.33:1 |
3440 × 1440
|
Ultrawide display category |
| 32:9 | 3.56:1 |
5120 × 1440
|
Super-ultrawide monitors |
| 4:5 | 0.80:1 |
1080 × 1350
|
Portrait images |
| 9:16 | 0.5625:1 |
1080 × 1920
|
Vertical video and phone content |
1280 × 720, 1920 × 1080, 2560 × 1440 and 3840 × 2160 all have the same 16:9 aspect ratio.
How Aspect Ratios Change the Frame
Aspect ratio describes the shape of a frame rather than its physical size or resolution. Wider ratios extend the frame horizontally, while portrait ratios make the frame taller than it is wide.
Equal width and height. Common for square images, icons, and social content.
A classic television and computer-display proportion that is less wide than 16:9.
A common photography ratio used by many interchangeable-lens cameras.
The dominant widescreen format for modern televisions, monitors, and video.
A broad ultrawide category used for wide monitors and cinema-like screen formats.
The portrait orientation of 16:9, commonly used for vertical phone and video content.
A 1920 × 1080 screen and a 3840 × 2160 screen are very different resolutions, but both have the same 16:9 aspect ratio. Aspect ratio describes shape; resolution describes pixel dimensions.
Display and Video Aspect Ratios
Modern consumer displays are dominated by 16:9, while productivity laptops often use 16:10 and ultrawide monitors use wider formats.
| Resolution | Exact Ratio | Category |
|---|---|---|
1920 × 1080
|
16:9 | Widescreen |
1920 × 1200
|
16:10 | Productivity |
2560 × 1440
|
16:9 | Widescreen |
2560 × 1080
|
64:27 | 21:9-class ultrawide |
3440 × 1440
|
43:18 | 21:9-class ultrawide |
5120 × 1440
|
32:9 | Super-ultrawide |
“21:9” is commonly used as an ultrawide marketing category. Many monitors sold as 21:9 do not have an exact mathematical 21:9 ratio.
Photography and Image Ratios
Photography commonly uses ratios such as 3:2 and 4:3. Cropping an image changes the ratio even when the original pixel dimensions remain available in the source file.
Common in interchangeable-lens camera photography.
Common with many compact cameras, phones and image sensors.
Equal width and height, often created through cropping.
A moderately tall format often used for portrait-oriented images.
Changing aspect ratio by cropping removes part of the original frame. Resizing without cropping should normally preserve the original ratio to avoid stretching the image.
Vertical Aspect Ratios
Turning a landscape ratio on its side reverses the numbers. A 16:9 widescreen frame therefore becomes 9:16 when used vertically.
| Portrait Ratio | Example | Landscape Equivalent |
|---|---|---|
| 9:16 |
1080 × 1920
|
16:9 |
| 4:5 |
1080 × 1350
|
5:4 |
| 3:4 |
1200 × 1600
|
4:3 |
| 2:3 |
2000 × 3000
|
3:2 |
Platform-specific image and video requirements can change, so the ratio itself is more durable reference information than any one recommended pixel size.
How to Calculate an Aspect Ratio
Divide the width by the height to find the decimal ratio.
Example: 1920 × 1080
Divide 1920 by 1080:
Reducing the two dimensions by their greatest common divisor gives:
Example: 1080 × 1350
Example: 3440 × 1440
Use the reduced dimensions when you need the exact mathematical ratio. Marketing names such as “21:9” may describe a broader family of similar ultrawide formats.
Aspect Ratio Questions
What aspect ratio is 1920 × 1080?
1920 × 1080 has a 16:9 aspect ratio. The same ratio is also used by 1280 × 720, 2560 × 1440 and 3840 × 2160.
Is 3440 × 1440 exactly 21:9?
No. It simplifies to 43:18, approximately 2.39:1. It is commonly grouped into the consumer 21:9 ultrawide category.
What is the difference between aspect ratio and resolution?
Aspect ratio describes the proportion between width and height. Resolution gives the exact horizontal and vertical pixel dimensions.
Does changing resolution change the aspect ratio?
Not necessarily. Multiple resolutions can share the same ratio. For example, 1920 × 1080 and 3840 × 2160 are both 16:9.
What is the vertical version of 16:9?
Rotating a 16:9 frame into portrait orientation produces 9:16.